The Swans v Saints AFL game in Wellington, New Zealand provided me, and no doubt many thousands of other New Zealanders, with the first real, serious opportunity to watch AFL on home soil.
What an outstanding spectacle. I found the game highly entertaining and fast. The players are blessed with amazing skills, particularly catching and kicking, and wonderful fitness levels.
I hope the AFL see this match as the first in a long-term strategy to bring the Australian game proper to New Zealand, because the AFL provides kiwi sports fans with a refreshing alternative to the rugby codes.
I can’t understand why it’s taken the AFL 150 years to venture over the Tasman. What were they scared of?
The ultimate in transtasman sports would be a competitive Australian v New Zealand international AFL match, with teams of even ability.
Such a match is well into the future, but imagine the All Blacks of AFL. Such a game would stop both nations, which is something league or union can’t currently do, despite all the hype that surrounds State of Origin and the Bledisloe Cup.
If the New Zealand Rugby Union want to increase revenue streams, may be they should bank roll the New Zealand international AFL team based on the All Blacks brand. Now there’s an innovative thought.
Neither the ARU nor NRL can crack the southern states. With a bit of nous and a joint venture with the AFL the New Zealand Rugby Union could show them both how to do it.
But enough of the dreaming.
Watching the AFL match made me understand why union and league can’t crack the southern states.
Both rugby codes are stodgy and slow in comparison. League’s lack of a contest for possession is a serious handicap, while union’s technicalities boggle the minds of even it’s own supporters, let alone the uninitiated.
My main concern before the game was whether I would understand it. Surprisingly, I found it quite easy to follow, despite terms like ‘handball’, ‘behind’, ‘Sherrin’ and ‘Ruckman’ being completely foreign to my sporting vernacular.
Other aspects of the game I found refreshing were:
1. Televising the final words of the St Kilda coach in the dressing room just before the start of the game
2. The TMO was conspicuous by his absence. 18 points can be scored in an AFL game in the time a union TMO takes to make a simple decision
3. The free-flowing nature of the game
4. A decent ANZAC pre-match ceremony
5. Decent looking on-screen graphics (the Super Rugby ones in New Zealand haven’t changed in ten years)
6. A decent length game. You get a lot of bang for your money with AFL. Union and league seem to be over in the blink of an eye, but AFL delivers more value for money, simply because the game lasts longer, and the ball is in play far longer.
7. A 20,000 plus crowd in Wellington for the first time in ages, for any sport.
Finally, a word about the skills. As you watch the players kick the ball to each other, it’s easy to forget the supreme skill required to run at full speed, kick the Sherrin 50 metres under pressure, and still put it on a dime.
Now that’s sport. Welcome to New Zealand Australian Rules Football.
Scooter
Guest
It wasnt so much the rain from earlier in the day, rather the dew that came in as the night went on. Given it was a clear night and little wind it was to be expected. The player footprints were very noticeable in it in the 4th Qtr and that probably alone accounts for the handling issues. Maybe something neither team anticipated?
clipper
Guest
Finnish Wife Carrying - now that's something I would pay to see! Don't the F1, Olympics, various world cups etc also make the host city underwrite the event - it's just economic sense - or did they hold the mayor hostage and threaten to return Russell Crowe unless they signed on the dotted line?
clipper
Guest
I just find it shocking that they would actually give out free tickets to kids that play Kiwi Kick and their families - whatever next - trying to get women involved?
Redb
Roar Guru
Matt S, Oops have to add 7mate to FTA. A trap for new players. Foxtel ratings on top of that again and no the NRL numbers would not be better overall if telecast on Foxtel as the FTA would drop like it does for AFL. Dumb logic. No-one watches the Ch 7 and Fox Footy channel at the same time lol
Redb
Roar Guru
Becuase they can. :)
Redb
Roar Guru
Good article. Seems the game was a success on a few fronts. Supported by a strong grass roots approach it's good to see first steps for the game in NZ.
Boomshanka
Guest
I agree that we seem to disagree on glass half empty / half full and this could go on for weeks. Suggest that you head over there next year AR and see for yourself that Wellington is not the economic or social backwater that the Melbourne media seem to portray (having us believe that the AFL match injected much needed support). The true economic impact of the game between the St Kilda Saints and Sydney Swans will not be known until a council-commissioned report has been completed in the coming weeks. Lets wait till then eh?
Australian Rules
Guest
Nathan If this is what we can expect from you all year, then I pray the Eagles find some form...and soon.
Australian Rules
Guest
Ok, so there's tangible benefits (full bars, cafes, taxis, hotels, aeroplanes) and intangible benefits (marketing, exposure, tourism PR etc). Wellington City Council gleefully underwrote it because was a big + for Wellington. You beef seems to be that it was also a big + for the AFL bogeyman.
Boomshanka
Guest
The promo was for Kiwi Kick Participants - not paid up members. We hear that the are apparently 30 000 of them in New Zealand. The AFL is a commercial business seeking growth in new markets. I've no problem with the AFL or any code be it Finnish Wife carrying or whatever, promoting its wares to new markets, but why do they insist on guaranteed payments of circa $500 000 and the local council to underwrite the lot.
Stanley
Guest
I know AFL is doing a lot to grow the game all over the world. NZ seems to be the best next place at the moment. Aussie Rules is a spectacular game and it would be great to see more teams and players from all over. Rugby and soccer fans needn't fear. All sports can and should peacefully co exist. That's what I like about Australia's sport culture - it is generally inclusive. Future generations will hopefully have more and not less sports to choose from.
Nathan of Perth
Roar Rookie
Yeah, the WC Eagles form is definitely starting to make me irritable.
Nathan of Perth
Roar Rookie
Double comment.
Nathan of Perth
Roar Rookie
Jesus Christ, Boomshanka, every last game in Australasia has free tickets given away. The West Coast Fever netball team played a big game at Perth Arena, at least 500 kids were given free tickets. Does this mean netball is an illegitimate sport or that the game at Perth Arena was a waste?
Nathan of Perth
Roar Rookie
Given the category of people that qualified, if you pursue this course, Boomshanka, you're forced into an invidious decision. Are there really that many Wellington-based people who are paid-up KiwiKick members to qualify for the tickets, or did the majority pay cash? Don't go from a rational debate to trying to find issue, no matter how contradictory to other issues raised. I mean, really, this is not a particularly serious matter. They held a game in New Zealand. Wellington City Council was involved because of mutual benefit. The heads of Rugby Union in New Zealand were not stabbed and thrown out of windows in a Night of the Long Goals Posts.
Australian Rules
Guest
Hang on...you've skipped from bars not being full...to free tickets being given away...to now spruking the wondferful craft beers on offer in Wellington. I think we best leave it alone. But just to clarify...the aim of the AFL was *not* to sell tickets...it was to expose people to AFL, largely for the first time.
Tim w
Guest
Aussie rules is skilful - it's about moving the ball (not ball retention) and when people can come at you from any angle (as there's no offside) they have to be quick and adaptive. The game is also more strategic and tactical than what you may think - there are a lot of set plays designed to get the balls out of a stoppage - with players running off each other at different angles.
Boomshanka
Guest
Free tickets have everything to do with the story. I doubt the Melbourne media reported that Kiwi Kick kids, of which there are 30,000 of them (apparently) were entitled to claim upto four tickets to take their families along. Caro Wilson claimed this morning that she reckoned due to the voices she heard during the anthem meant that their were a lot of kiwis. That's a hell of a give away for something that is supposed to stand on its own two feet and make money. - especially when the council are underwriting the thing and St Kilda get a $500 000 additional payment. FYI: I've spent many a night in Wellington bars watching All Black and other football games, have you? Specialised sports bars are not my thing but probably the right place to go for a VB or Carton Draught - perfect for the travelling Aussie sports fan. Wellington has a fantastic craft beer scene and bars such as the Fork and Brewer, the Bruhouse, the Malthouse and Leuven generally get my money. One bar in particular - Hazigo Zake prides itself with no Carton United, Lion or DB products - fantastic place with no parallel that I've yet to see in Australia.
Australian Rules
Guest
Huh? What do free ticket giveaways have to do with what we're talking about? (btw, I would *hope* that the AFL gave away plenty of free tickets for those who wanted a curious look...cos I don't think it's gate receipts that are keeping the AFL up at night) You're point seems to be that Wellington's bars and cafes are more packed during All Blacks games...well...I'd bloody hope so! But just for clarification...what does Kendall say on this one?
Boomshanka
Guest
AR Have you been to Wellington? I wasn't there last week, however as an ex resident and someone who travels there 3 - 4 times a year I'd put good money that an All Black match played in Canberra would better fill Wellingtons bars. Having been there when the Lions toured a few years back, with two cruise liners acting as makeshift hotels, the place was heaving but able to cope. I've seen no evidence to suggest the place was "chocka's" and it was still possible to do a last minute fly in for the game as late as last Monday. Wellington teems with great cafes and bars. They do not just fill up when a few Aussies fly over for a football match. We have the Mayor (who underwrote the whole she-bang) and the AFL (guaranteed recipients) on one side saying things like "we'll fill the place", and how successful the venture was, whilst little reality reported. I would be prepared to say that bars on ANZAC day afternoon would probably have had a few more people than a normal day but when one considers the amount of free tickets on offer (see link below - how many kiwi kick participants are there again?) the upcoming economic impact report to hit the council should be interesting. http://aflnz.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/AFLGamedaySaintsLive.jpg